Exo, a leader in structural engineering and asset management for utilities, was both an award finalist and an award recipient at Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure 2024, Going Digital Awards, an event celebrating organizations that advance global infrastructure through innovation and visionary projects. Exo was honored as a finalist for its pioneering use of iTwin Capture and Power Line Systems in the Ohio Falls Hydro Station project, demonstrating digital advancements in life extension and sustainability for transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The Ohio Falls project, led by Exo’s VP of Engineering Services, Michael Miller, P.E., tackled the challenge of two corroded transmission towers, built in the 1920s, whose lines span the Ohio River. With inadequate technical drawings available, Miller’s team utilized digital twin technology to create precise models of the aging towers, analyzing the feasibility of extending their service life rather than replacing them. The innovative remediation is projected to save the utility company an estimated 10 years of permitting delays and approximately $80 million by avoiding unnecessary tower replacements.
In addition to being named a finalist, Exo received the esteemed "Founders’ Honor" for its work in stabilizing a critical 161kV overhead transmission tower, which supplied power to several
hospitals. By creating a digital twin and engineering a stabilization solution, Exo ensured the transmission line remained in service, avoiding extended outages. The project saved four to six weeks of surveying time thanks to the use of Bentley’s digital applications, ensuring uninterrupted power to the hospitals at full capacity.